Call for answers on inquiry into death of Wolverhampton dog walker
An investigation is being carried out into the handling of a police inquiry into an accident that killed a Wolverhampton man who was walking his dogs.
Julian Waskiewicz was walking his two dachshunds in Albrighton when he was struck by a silver Volvo on November 10, 2014. The 56-year-old, of Tettenhall Wood, was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a critical condition but died six days later. The driver of the car involved was not prosecuted for any offence.
Relatives of Mr Waskiewicz and the South Staffordshire coroner raised concerns about what happened in the aftermath of the accident. Speaking at an inquest held in May last year, it was revealed a test taken immediately after the accident on Burnhill Green Road showed the driver was 3mg above the drink-drive limit.
But a later test taken at Malinsgate Police Station in Telford measured 35mg, which was just within the legal limit. Coroner Mr Andrew Haigh said he intended to write to West Mercia Police Chief Constable David Shaw to demand why the earlier reading was not taken into consideration.
The family has now made a complaint about the investigation, which is involving Staffordshire and Warwickshire police forces. A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "There is a report being compiled and it will be ready by the end of this month."
Mr Waskiewicz's relatives claim officers failed to adequately control the accident scene, conduct an effective reconstruction, present the case to the CPS for a charging decision, provide clear and timely information to the bereaved family and to conduct a count back on the driver.
Mr Waskiewicz died six weeks after his wife Jill, 54, died following a two-year battle with cancer.
